I think the whole 'what smith gets dictates what others get' is overblown.
Smith is a PF, harder to get than a SG or a SF. Smith is coming off a good season in which his horrible team made the playoffs and rightly or wrongly that's seen as a good thing and a plus for Smith. The bulls on the other hand stunk up the joint, got a coach fired, and performed WELL below expectations after deng and gordon turned down rather substantial extensions, their performance (rightly or wrongly) is perceived to have hurt them not helped them in their argument that they are worth more. Smith is younger than all 3 as well, and possibly has more 'upside'.
Deng and Gordon hurt themselves with their play this season and supposedly Iguodala hurt himself in the playoffs (which I don't buy any more than Sam earned his big deal against the pistons years ago, due to small sample size)
I think it's apples and oranges due to position, pefromance, and expected level of play.
The big problem the bulls have with ben gordon is if gordon still deamnds that he's a starter, cause they don't think he is (and i don't think he is either)